Cost of Living Comparison Between Appleton, WI and Hamilton Cost of Living Comparison Between Appleton, WI and Hamilton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,142 per month in Appleton, WI vs $2,321 in Hamilton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,284 per month in Appleton, WI vs $3,399 in Hamilton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,426 per month in Appleton, WI vs $4,477 in Hamilton, rent included.

Appleton, WI is about 8% cheaper than Hamilton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Appleton, WI and Hamilton sit above the global median – Appleton, WI by 56%, Hamilton by 69%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.94 $17.94

$18.38 CA$25.35

-2.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.9 $65.9

$68.1 CA$93.9

-3.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 $10.96

$12.51 CA$17.25

-12.39%

Cappuccino

$5.33 $5.33

$3.56 CA$4.90

49.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.20 CA$3.03

17.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.74 CA$2.40

31.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.18 CA$7.14

-14.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 $6.17

$6.50 CA$8.97

-5.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$2.05 CA$2.83

-51.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.22 CA$3.07

35.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.66 $5.66

$2.84 CA$3.91

99.30%

Eggs

$4.72 $4.72

$3.44 CA$4.75

37.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.28 $14.28

$7.57 CA$10.44

88.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 $8.47

$10.40 CA$14.35

-18.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.28 $15.28

$14.04 CA$19.37

8.83%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.91 CA$5.40

23.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.28 CA$1.76

7.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.10 $3.10

$4.27 CA$5.88

-27.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.92 CA$5.41

11.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.64 CA$3.64

-21.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.75 CA$2.41

64.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.34 CA$3.23

-6.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.46 CA$2.02

113.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.88 $10.88

$14.22 CA$19.61

-23.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$13.06 CA$18.01

17.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.38 CA$3.29

-28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$4.19 CA$5.78

-15.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.78

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.7 CA$121

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.50 CA$4.82

-5.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.33 CA$1.83

6.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.44 $22.44

$23.47 CA$32.37

-4.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.19 CA$1.64

-19.33%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.6K $35.6K

$28.9K CA$39.9K

23.06%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.7K $24.7K

$20.1K CA$27.7K

23.25%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$177 $177

$151 CA$208

17.15%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$44.91 $44.91

$40.12 CA$55.3

11.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.0 $62.0

$51.2 CA$70.5

21.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.62 $23.62

$37.62 CA$51.9

-37.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.87 $40.87

$21.56 CA$29.73

89.56%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$10.27 CA$14.16

43.23%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,531 $1,531

$615 CA$849

148.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K $31.6K

$16.6K CA$22.9K

90.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.91 $39.91

$50.2 CA$69.3

-20.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.11 $25.11

$34.50 CA$47.58

-27.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.2 $50.2

$91.9 CA$127

-45.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$121 CA$167

-9.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,516 $1,516

$1,320 CA$1,820

14.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,017 $1,017

$1,211 CA$1,670

-16.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,835 $1,835

$2,063 CA$2,845

-11.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$1,928 CA$2,659

-1.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,309 $2,309

$2,814 CA$3,880

-17.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,305 $2,305

$2,808 CA$3,872

-17.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,957 $3,957

$2,912 CA$4,016

35.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.14

4.6

33.48%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Appleton, WI: August 30, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,516 in Appleton, WI versus $1,320 in Hamilton. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 36% higher in Appleton, WI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Appleton, WI versus $68.0 in Hamilton. Groceries tell a different story – $383 in Appleton, WI vs $333 in Hamilton – so Hamilton wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Appleton, WI vs Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Hamilton is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,213 per month in Appleton, WI and $3,482 in Hamilton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Appleton, WI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Appleton, WI and $68.0 in Hamilton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Hamilton – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Appleton, WI, where all-in costs run around $2,142, than in Hamilton at $2,321. In Appleton, WI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamilton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Appleton, WI – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Appleton, WI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hamilton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.